I love a good traditional murder mystery just as much as I love the paranormal and the supernatural. Kevin Anderson has combined alA Howling Good Time
I love a good traditional murder mystery just as much as I love the paranormal and the supernatural. Kevin Anderson has combined all three in this series, and it's my new reading obsession. He has a knack for creating worlds and characters that resonate, entertain, and delight absolutely anyone who gets a chance to experience them. I'm excited to read the next book in the series, and I hope someday I get to stream the whole thing on Hulu or Netflix....more
Easy read, and a clear and concise overview of various meditation practices. I especially appreciated the attention to breathing and posture since mosEasy read, and a clear and concise overview of various meditation practices. I especially appreciated the attention to breathing and posture since most beginners start out without this fundamental knowledge. A good choice for anyone looking for an introduction into the world of meditation....more
Kim Barker's memoir of her experiences reporting in Afghanistan and Pakistan is nothing short of remarkable. I admit to feeling skeptical that this meKim Barker's memoir of her experiences reporting in Afghanistan and Pakistan is nothing short of remarkable. I admit to feeling skeptical that this memoir could be anything other than depressing, considering the source material and the locations, but the author was able to transfer her love of Afghanistan, Pakistan, the people who reside there, and various aspects of the culture to the pages of this book with some biting sarcasm, engaging dialogue, and laugh-out-loud humor.
I'll call myself out in this review and confess that my understanding of the politics involved in the war in Afghanistan, Pakistan or even Iraq is paltry at best; a subject I felt unable to dig into or decipher simply because I didn't feel I could trust our politicians or the media to tell the truth in regards to our motives for placing soldiers in these countries. I didn't think anyone would willingly share why this undertaking has had so much fall-out. Even though this memoir is no doubt the Reader's Digest version of several years' worth of information, experience, and research, it still manages to give the reader an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of these countries' politics, cultural and religious codes they operate under, and the roots of their dysfunction in a way that informs and entertains rather than leaves one bored and slightly comatose, like a high school freshman might feel in the middle of an endless history lecture.
Kim's own personal journey throughout the book is filled with self-deprecating humor and self-discovery. She may not suffer fools lightly, but she also recognizes when her own foolishness manages to rear its ugly head. She doesn't give herself a way to bow out of that, especially in her failed relationships; managing to own up to the fact that she was also at fault. Her love affair and addiction to her career takes precedence over anything else. It took some time to essentially break-up with that adrenaline infused lifestyle and recognize that her situation had become unhealthy and dangerous; a difficult decision to make, but one that probably saved her life. I'm amazed she was able to do it, considering how much purpose she found in her career and how much she loved these war-ridden countries. It was a journey of riveting self-discovery.
Another aspect of this book that I found so interesting was Kim's ability to compartmentalize her dangerous, heartbreaking, and often traumatic experiences with an emotional disconnect that enabled her to continue on with her job. This defense mechanism isn't an unusual path that our minds take in situations like this, but it is unusual for an author to give the reader that option as well. Many times throughout the book, I found that the narrative allowed for some emotional distance due to the humor and matter-of-fact way in which Kim described events and her reactions to these events. Her fear, pain, and heartache at the loss of so many friends and relationships were palpable and presented for the reader to examine and experience, but it was delivered with some cushion, giving the reader the out they needed to emotionally pull back if they so desired. There were times when I knew Kim's situation was much more dangerous and harrowing than the narrative warranted, and I was ready to go into panic mode on her behalf, and many times I did. Other times, I held on to that bullet proof vest she so kindly offered and protected my emotions from the onslaught.
I have no idea how she managed that so beautifully, but she did it. I understood the magnitude of this story, but I didn't have to leave the book so emotionally wrung out that I couldn't function...not that I've ever done that before. Ahem.
In conclusion, this memoir is more than remarkable, it's memorable; something readers will continue to think about and examine long after the last page has been read. I highly recommend it to all memoir lovers out there and to anyone who yearns for a little more enlightenment in respect to the troubling conflicts overseas....more
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